Hydraulic turbine



April 23, 1929. L. F. MOODY 1,709,994

HYDRAULIC TURBINE Original Filed May 16, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I w Dal 31:. \lgg $7 l J u R...

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HYDRAULIC TURBINE Original Filed May 16. 1921 g s t -s t 2 April 23, 1929.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE-f Original application filed lVlaylG, 1921, and renewed Decciinberfii, l923,-Seria1 No, 469,936. Divided and this application filed September 24, 1926. Serial No. 3??{132 I This invention relates to hydraulic turbines and particularly to turbines of moderate and high specific speed. The chief object of the invention is to improve the performance and eiliciency of a turbine both under normal and part rate conditions by reducing the re sistance to the flow and to the rotation of the runner. y

A further objcct of the invention is to avoid corrosionof the runner vanes caused by areas of low pressure in the flow along the rear surfaces of the vanes.

Further objects of the invention particularly in the formation of the turbine parts to maintain the air spaces between theflow and the runner vane surfaces will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a turbine illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional View through the runner vanes and Fig. is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 but with portions indicated in different planes, and illustrating; a modification.

in the specific embodiment ofthe invention shown in the drawings, the runner R of a turbine of the reaction type has a vertical shaft 10 and a hub lltaperingin the direction of the discharge. The runner vanes 12 extend across the passage 13 and are diagonally inclined as shown not only by the entrance and discharge edges each being diagonal but also shown more broadly by the d iagronal line (Z which is midway between the entrance and discharge edges when the blade is viewed in elevation as in Fig. 1. The

liov; entering by intake passage '14, preferably of the volute type, is givena whirl and passes on through inclined guide vanes 15 and into the trai'isition space 16 where its whirl LS 111- creased and it is turnedtoward the axial d l ection and passed through the runner Rat high velocity. A top casting 17 arries a bearing ih for the shaft 10 and has a conical gu d ng" surface 11) forming the inner wall of the transition s ace 16. The [low discharging; from theruuner R- passes out through the draft tube D, which may be of the type shown or have a central core extending up into n'oximity to the runner. By employ ing a sufficiently high velocity head in the water entering); the runner, the n'essure head can be reduced to atmowheric or lower so that by providing the opening air will flow into the space in advance of the runner, forming a continuous body of air through the central portion of therunner surrounding its huh. I Q The runner vanes 12 are of simple contour extending across the flow lines'and they are preferably relatively flat. deflecting the water but littleand causing but little change in the amount of the velocity of the Water passing through theln as is consistent with the development ofa comparatively low torque and correspondingly high speed. The How considered relatively to the runner-vanes may approach closely to the flow in an impulse turbins in which there is no change in the pressure head, and (in an axial flow impulse runnor) but little chanqe'in the relative velocity as the water passes tlnroughthe runner. If the flow is permitted to part from the bacl s of the runner vanes so as toremain' in contact only withthe faces of the vanes a reduc tion. in surface friction will resultby'keepinc; the water away from the back surfaces ofthe vane. The result'is increased efficiency and may be ell'ccted with little change in the velocity relations since the flow through a high speed. light torque runner involves little change in the amount of thevolocity. The driving faces the vanes are helicoidal and of varying pitch as shown by thesuccessive angle-s a a and a in Fig. 2. The length of the blade face is such that at any point of the blade face the linev Z of intersection of the blade face with a stream line surface at said point is greater than the circmnferential pitch in this stream line surface at the dis charge end of the runner. The stream line surface is a surface of revolution; in the direction of flow. at all points so that 1t forms the boundary of any given sub-division of the flow, this surface of revolution belng slmilar to a conical or circular surfacecoaxial with the runner axis. The length of theline of intersection of this surface with the blade face is such that if placed circumferentially on'the circulars-urface and atright angles to the runner axis. this line would include the distance between the discharge edges of successive vanes measured circumferentially on] the circular surface. It is also to be noted as shown in Fig. Qthat the blades have apor- I surfaces of the vanes 12 may be effected by the angle and contour of the vane surfaces with relation to the flow (Fig. 2). The spaces 21' at the backs of the vanes will then be filled wit-h air and the. flowwill be separated from these back surfaces, not only re ducing the surface friction but also avoiding pitting and corrosion of said surfaces. When.

the flow is not permitted to leave these surfaces there is a decided tendency for the water to lower its pressure along them at such a rapid rate that the stream parts from the surface leaving eddying water in contact with the vane and creating backward flow and eddies and causing rapid corrosion and wear.

A further advantage of the separation of the flow from the vane surfaces is the improvement of part gate efliciencies due to the filling of the space behind. each vane by air instead of water in an eddying, turbulent condition. In furtherance of this advantage it may also be desirable to permit the water to part from either one or both of the walls of the passage 13 in which the runner is located. Forinstance, air may be introduced around the runner shaft by passages 25 and this will serve to supply the spaces behind the runner vanes and at part gate the flow will be formed with a free surface surroundingthe turbine axis, the space within this surface being filled with air and not with eddying water as would be the case without an air inlet. hen there is no such air admission the water is obliged to fill the entire space even when this involves sudden enlargement'of the streams cross-section and under off-normal conditions of operation this causes eddies and backward flow at some points. lVith air admission the water can maintain its natural velocity and contract to the stream cross-section required by this velocity. thus adjusting the area of the stream cross-section to the amount of water admitted, the remainder of the space within the enclosing Walls being filled with air. It willv also be desirable to provide the air supply connections with check valves closing when ever the'pressure of the. water rises above atmospheric so as to prevent a backward flow into the air supply, and opening whenever the water pressure drops so as to draw in air. In many cases, it will be advantageous to admit air to the runner up to some definite gate opening and beyond this point to close the air inlet and operate at larger gate openings as a reaction turbine. For this purpose-the air inlet/'25 may be provided with means such as valve 26 with connections to close thevalve at some definite gate opening. For

instance. these connections may comprise a cam c on arm a of the wicket gate 15 moving the arm Z) of valve 26 to control the valve.

In the admission of air around the runner it may be desirable to provide an air space around the tips of the runner vanes either in addition to or instead of the central air supply around the hub. For instance. in Fig. lan air supply passage may be provided having openin s 51 leading i: .o the turbine conouit adjacent the tips if the runner vanes. Such an air supply will maintain an air space 52 around the runner tips reducing f iction and serving to supply air to the spaces at the backs the vanes. Such an air space will also aid in reducing wasteful cddying'of the flow under part conditions and thus increase the efiiciency of the turbine.

in Fig. 3 a modified form of turbine is shown in which the flow enters by volute and passes with a whirl through the fixed vanes 56 into transition space 5Twherein the whirling flow is turned toward the axial direction onto the runner R from which it discharges into draft tube D having a ccntral core C extending into proximity with the runner. The flow to the runner is controlled by the plunger gale o sliding in the stay vane ring 56 and having the piston portion 59 moved by fluid pressure in spaces 60. 61. lhe shaft 62 of the rininer has a bearing 63 in cover 6% and passes down through a sleeve 65 suspended. from the end (36 of the stationary cylinder 6?. An air supply pipe 70 opens into the space 71 between the cover 66 and plunger gate 58 and this gate has a central opening 72 through which the air is drawn around the sleeves 65 downto the runner vanes, forming a central air space for the whirling vertex of the inflow in transition space 54'. This central air supply is articularly advantageous in this plunger gate type of turbine in permitting the flow in the transition space to have a free surface 73' at the. center. its the gate is closed and the flow is restricted the water does not have to fill the transit-ion s1 ace but passes sion may also be provided aroundthe wall oi the transition space as in the arrai'igement. Passages similar to 50. openings 51. shown in Fig. 1 would be for this purpose (as show t 5O. 51) either in addition to or instead 0 the openings 2.

7 I closed by a casing, comprising 'to' axial inward flow 'uide van 7 r:

successive blades and that said blade along said intersect-ion has an inclination with respect to a radial plane that falls within an angle not substantially greater than 5. 1n a hyd'aulic turbine a conduit ena radial flow ninat-ing in portioin an axial flow portion l 61' ransit-lon a flow decelerating draft tube, '2 space in which the flow changes cs 11 said iadial flow ortion. and an nnshrou'ded pro pcller runner in said axial flow portion receiving an axial dew and raving blades of such a length that at a oint of a blade the line of intersection of the blade with a stream line surface passing through said point is equal to or greater than the circlnni erential dis t-ance between corresponding points on successive blades, a portion oi a blade ilonc said intersection being; tapered toward the dis charge edge of the blade.

6. In a hydraulic turbin a conduit onclosed by a casino; comprising; a radial flow portion.; an axial low portion terminating in a flow decelerating drafttubc, a transition space in which the flow changes from radial to axial, inward flow movable guide vanes in said radial flow portion, and an unshrouded propell r runner in said :Xial flow portion havin blades extending across the axial flow portion so as to receive an iliiill flow, and of such a length that at any point er the blade the line ot intersect-ion of the blade with a stream line surface passing through said point equal to or greater than the circumfcrential distance between corresponding points on successive blades and that the blade, at leas -alon; one intersection, makes an angle witha radial plane no t greater than substantially 30. 7

7 In a hydraulic turbine, the con'ibination with a conduit including an ent'ance passage and gruidenieans for direcing the flow to tl runner, of means for admitting air to said conduit, and a runner with slightly overlapping blades having back surfaces formed to direct and cause the se 'iaration of the flow from said back surfaces.

8. In a hydraulic tnrbine,'a propeller -un nor having unshrouded, ovcrla iping blades provided with driving faces of varying pitch, and inc-ans for directing an axial fiowto said runner, nio *ableguide vanes for whirling the intlowing fluid to said runner and spaced therefrom to form a transition space in which the fluid-is turned from a radial. to an axial direction, said blades being of such :1

length that at any point ofa blade the line of e-iwection oi the blade surface passing through said point is equal to or greater than the circumferential disbetween corresponding points on successive blades at the discharge end of the runnena and a radial entrance passage having an axial width which is equal to or greater with a stream line rhanithe raCial width of the runner passage between the runner hub and Sill'l'OllIlLllllg e, inward fiOWSl'UlLlC vanes for flow passing i to said radial 1 specihc speed lOll and an axial flow higl 1 portion d sposed in the axialportion or said conduit and spaced from said guide vanes to form a transition space in which the flow is turned from a radial to an axial direction, said runner having a hub carrying successive blades which are so disposed that the discharge edges near the outer part or the blades ire in a radial plane which lies substantially outside the blades near the hub and at least a portion of the adjacent entrance and discharge edges of successive blades being disp :cd relatively close to a common meridian plane, said blades also being relatively tlat in the direction of new thereover and arch liming a portion whereby the line of intersection between said blade portion and a cirwith the runner falls the blade.

ll. A structure a; set forth in claim 9 where n the guiding surtaces oi the blades are substantially helicoidal.

r12. A structuri as set forth in claim 9 wherein the blade tips are unsln'ouded and fall within an angle of substantially 30 with respect to a radial plan v.

13. The conibiiation in a hydraulic ture eonun'ising means forming); a conduit turning: em. a radial to an axial directioin said aizialportion including a flow decelerating r raft tube, high specific spcedpropeller type runner disposed in said conduit and having blades which are relatively flat in the direction of "low thereover, adjustable guide vanes also oisposed in said conduit for controlling; and whirlin low to said runner. said vanes and runner being spaced apart to form 7 s v propeller runner having at cc st its major atransition space, and means for admitting Lil and means for permitting passage of air within said casing from a point above said runner to a point in said conduit adjacent said runner.

15. The coi'nhination in a hydraulic turbine comprising means forming a conduit turning from a radial to an ar'al d'rection, said axial portion including a llow decelerating draft tube, a high specific speed iuropeller type runner disposed in said conduit, vanes also disposed in said conduit and spaced from said runner to form a transition space raving constant volume during variations in the volume oi fluid flow through said conduit, and means for admitting air to the axial portion of said conduit adj acentsaid runner.

16. The combination in a hydraulic turbine con'iprising means forming a conduit turning from a radial to an axial direction, said axial portion including a liow decelerating Cll'lili] tube, while that portion of the coi'iduit which turns from ra lie] to axial has an inner stationary wall constituting substantially a curved surlace oi? revolution, a runner and guide vanes disposed in said conduit and spaced apart to form a transition space which is bounded on its inner side by said surface oi revolution, and stationary means for admitting air adjacent to said runner and the central portion or? the draft tube entrance, said stationary means being surrouiuled by said wall. I

17. The con'ibination in. a hydraulic turbine (ZOll'lPI'lSlllg means 'lorniing a conduit turning from a radial. to an axial direction, said axial portion including a flow decelerati dralt n .tube, while that portion oil the conduit which turns from radial to axial. has an inner stationary Wall constituting substantially a curved surface of revolution, a runner and guide vanes disposed in said conduit and spaced apart to form a transition space which is bounded on its inner side by said surface of revolution, and stationary means for admitting air adjacent to said runner and the draft tube entrance. 1

18. The combination in a hydraulic turbine conduit and having blades which are relatively flat in the direction of flow thereover, guide vanes also disposed in said conduit for whirling the flow to said runner an d spaced therefrom to form a transition space having constant volume during flow variations to the runner, and means permitting admission of air to the central portion of said draft tube adjacent to said runner, including an air passage having conin'iunication with said eoneuit only at points adj aeent to said runner.

19. The con'ibination as set forth in claim 17 wherein said air passage is bounded on its outer sides and at its uppermost portion by fixed walls extending generally in a downward axial direction for a substantial distance below a radial plane containing the upper niost partojl the radial portion or said conduit.

20. in a hydraulic turbine, i'neans forming iit turning from radial to an axial di rection andv terminating in a flow decelerating draft tube, inward "l'low inovable guide vanes for whirling the flow passing into said radial portion, and an axial flow propeller runner having its major port-ion disposed in the axial portion of said conduit and spaced from said guide vanes to for-ma transition space, said runner having successive blades so disposed. that when viewed. in elevation an outwardly extending line drawn midway between the entrance and discharge edges oi a blade will extend diagonally with respect to the runner axis and at least a portion oil the adj acent entrance and. discharge edgesof suec i e blades will be disposed relatively close to a common meridian plane, each oi? said blades also having a portion whereby the line oil? intersection between said blade portion and a circular surface coaxial with the runner ttalls withinv an angle not greater than substantially 30 with respect to a radial plane.

LEWIS F. MOODY. 

